MLB.com's Carrie Muskat has been covering Major League Baseball since 1981 and is the author of "Banks to Sandberg to Grace: Five Decades of Love and Frustration with the Cubs." You can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat. Here, she blogs about the Cubs.

7/22 Dempster update

Ryan Dempster’s right toe felt so good, he threw a simulated game on Wednesday in Philly and could be back in the Cubs rotation as early as Sunday.

“Everything depends on the X-ray,” Dempster said after throwing 60 pitches at Citizens Bank Park before the Cubs’ game vs. the Phillies.

Dempster, who broke his right big toe July 5, was to have an X-ray taken Thursday on the Cubs’ off day. If he passes that exam, he could start as soon as Sunday vs. the Reds. The Cubs had hoped Dempster could throw a sim game this weekend in Chicago but that was moved up.

“It’s still a little sore but not painful,” Dempster said. “I’m happy.”

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